Cauliflower Tawa Pulao

Sometime back when the term 'paleo diet' was still new and restricted to the jargon of a 'chosen few', I stumbled upon something called the 'cauliflower rice' . It was the proposed substitute of the regular rice. But I was a bit skeptical about it as cauliflower lacks the sweetness and the aroma of the latter. A single disastrous trial proved my worst fears and ensured that it stayed off the menu .

I had completely forgotten about the recipe till now. But a small mistake in the grocery list ended up with a glut of cauliflowers in my fridge and I was forced to resort to some really creative culinary techniques. From making a pasta sauce to a wholesome soup, I went overboard with my experiments and managed to finish off mot of the stock. Yet there was this small head of cauliflower that begged for attention before I logged out of the kitchen for a long weekend. That is when I pulled out the cauliflower rice recipe from the archives of my memory and gave it a Mumbaiya style twist !!

The spice of the pav bhaji masala and the tang from the tomatoes and lime juice surely turns this recipe into a winner. A dash of cheese is sure to add another level of yumminess to this dish. Most kids will love this version of the 'tawa pulao' so make sure you add it to the menu of your kiddo's potluck party.

Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 25-30 mins

Ingredients -

• 2 1/2 cups grated cauliflower (tightly packed)
• 1 small carrot ( finely chopped)
• 1 small capsicum ( finely chopped)
• a handful of green peas
• 1 large ripe tomato (finely chopped)
• 1 small onion ( finely chopped)
• 1 tsp GG paste
• 1/2 tsp red chili powder
• 1 tsp pav bhaji masala
• 2 pinch turmeric
• 2 pinch garam masala
• 2-3 tsp lime juice
• 2 tbsp chopped cilantro
• 2 tsp cooking oil
• salt to taste
• grated cheese for garnishing 

Preparation - 

To make the grated cauliflower, cut the cauliflower into large florets. Use either a grated with large holes or pulse it for a few seconds in a mixer. Dry it on a paper towel to absorb the excess moisture.

Cooking - Steam the grated cauliflower for about 5 mins in a steamer.

Heat 2 tsp oil in a large wok. ( use one that is usually used in Chinese style cooking as it has a large surface area )

Add onions and fry till translucent.

Add the GG paste next and fry for 2-3 mins.

Add all the powdered masalas along with 2-3 tsp water to prevent burning. Fry for 2 mins with sprinkling of water at regular intervals.

Add the tomato and cook it till mushy.

Add chopped carrots, capsicum and green peas. Add a little salt. Saute on medium high for 3-4 mins.

Finally add the cauliflower rice, sprinkle some more salt and turn up the heat.

Stir fry for 2-3 mins till everything is nicely mixed .

Add the lime juice and toss it once again.

Transfer to the serving bowls.

Garnish with chopped cilantro and grated cheese.

Serve immediately.

Malabar Parotta Roll with Chicken Kasa stuffing

My love affair with Kerala cuisine dates back to my school days. Having a best friend who could trace her roots to the backwaters was the beginning of a life long tryst with one of the most aromatic cuisines that India can boast of. I have come across cuisines that rate much higher on the visual appeal but the aromas that waft out of a Mallu kitchen are nothing less than orgasmic. But more than the noteworthy non-vegetarian recipes that you can find at any decent restaurant, I am sold on the simple vegetarian fare that is consumed in most Kerala households. The simplicity of a thoran, the sharpness of Puli-inji , the sweetness of Erissery and even the yummy richness of a Ulli Sambar makes me go ballistic. Maybe it has got something to do with the fact that my friend's family was a strict vegetarian (Nambiars to be precise ).

Growing up together during all those years, we had our share of group studies, pimples, body image issues and not to forget the crushes ( often the same guy ). Ok, this is no secret but most girls in a class will have a crush on the class topper ( undoubtedly a nerd but one with a measure of cuteness thrown in ) at some point of time. The guy who bags most of the sports prizes comes a close second while the third position is generally reserved for the resident 'Tansen'. And going by my interactions with the kids in our society, the status quo still continues.

But getting back to our group study sessions, the finger-licking Mallu food was definitely an added attraction. No wonder most of the studies (and gossip) happened at her place. So, when it was time to experiment with a fusion dish that spanned '2 states', I just had to pick up something that belonged to God's own country and marry it with one of Odisha's culinary gems. Hence, the decision to bring together the flaky and crisp Malabar Parotta and the deceivingly simple Chicken Kasa to make a sumptuous evening snack ( something like the Kathi rolls but very different in taste and texture). A word of caution though. Getting it done is definitely a labor of love but one that will be definitely worth it !

Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 1 hour 15 mins

Ingredients -

For the Malabar Parotta -

• 2 cups maida
• 1 cup of milk ( room temp)
• 2 tsp sugar
• 1 egg
• 3-4 teaspoon oil
• water as required
• salt to taste
• more ghee/oil for frying

For the Chicken Kasa - 

• 600 gm Chicken (with bones)
• 1 large tomato
• 1 large onion
• 1 inch ginger
• 10-12 garlic cloves
• 1 inch cinnamon
• 2 green cardamom
• 2 cloves
• 2-3 dry red chilis
• 1/2 tsp turmeric
• 1/2 tsp red chili powder
• 1/5 tsp garam masala
• 3-4 tsp oil
• salt to taste
• 1 tsp sugar
• cilantro for garnishing

Extras -

• Onion rings ( soaked in water and vinegar in 1:1 ratio )
• tomato sauce
• a dash of lemon juice

Cooking - 

For the Malabar Parotta - Break the egg into a bowl. Add the salt and sugar to it. Beat lightly. Add to the flour along with the milk and a little water. Mix gently till you get a slightly sticky dough. Cover and keep aside for 15-20 mins.

Start kneading the dough once again. Add some flour or a little oil if it seems too sticky. Knead for 5 mins till the stickiness reduces to a large extent. Spread some oil over the dough. Cover with a towel and keep aside for another 10 mins.

Rub oil generously all over your hands and start kneading the dough. Knead for 5-7 mins till most of the moisture is absorbed and the dough looks smooth and even. Divide into 4-5 portions and shape each one into a ball. Rub oil all over the dough balls and keep aside for half hour.

Sprinkle flour over the working surface and roll out each ball. Brush a little oil all over the roti and sprinkle flour evenly over the surface. Take hold of one edge of the roti and fold it like you would fold a paper to make a fan. Once it is folded into a long shape, twist it into a coil around of the ends. Brush more oil over the coil and keep aside for another 5-10 mins. Repeat for the remaining dough balls.

Finally, take each coil and roll out into a parotta. 

Heat a tawa. Place the parotta over it, cook for 1-2 mins and then flip it over. After 1 min, add ghee and fry on one side till small brown spots begin to appear. Then it flip over, add more ghee and fry on the other side as well. Take care that you press it down while frying to separate out the layers.

Repeat with the remaining ones.

For the Chicken Kasa - 

Wash and marinate the chicken with the salt and turmeric for 10 mins.

Take the onion, ginger, garlic, red chili and whole spices in a chutney jar. Grind into a smooth paste. Add it to the marinated chicken along with 2 tsp oil. Mix well. Let it stand for 20-30 mins.

Heat the remaining oil in a heavy bottomed vessel. Add the sugar and red chili powder. Just as it starts to smoke, add the marinated chicken. Toss on high for 2-3 mins. Cover it ans cook till half done.

Add the finely chopped tomatoes at this stage. Cover once again and cook till soft ( the meat should be easily separated from the bones). The curry should be dry at this point. Add the garam masala and chopped cilantro. Mix in and remove from flame. 

[ Note - The chicken should get cooked in it's own juice. If at any point, the curry looks too dry, sprinkle a few drops of water to avoid getting it burnt. ]

Once it is bearable to touch, separate the meat from the bones. 

For the finishing touches, take a parotta, add some the chicken pieces and a few onion rings. Drizzle the sauce over the parotta. Add a dash of lemon juice. Wrap it up and dig in !

Important - You have obviously been good !! Reading till the very last line of this post :) . Ok, so here is a suggestion that will make this recipe super easy.

Try this with a Heat & Eat packet of Malabar parottas. They are delish, especially the ones sold by ID . Yes, even I do this when I am in the mood to cheat ;) .

Chaula Bara ( A Rustic style Vada from Odisha )

Have you ever wondered if there is a key to your memory ? If yes, is it just one ?  Or do such multiple keys exist which have the power to selectively unlock small sections of one's memories ? To me, the human mind sometimes seems like a beehive with cell upon cell crammed together. But while they may seem identical, each one is unique and holds something specific. And most importantly, there exists a singular key for each cell.

But at other times, digging into the human mind reminds me of looking/ exploring for water /oil under a rocky terrain. Just like the water or oil which is trapped between two layers of solid rock and can be harvested only if we reach a specific depth, neither less not more, the human mind seems to have layer and layers of memories superimposed one upon the other. Reaching for a specific memory thus requires knowledge of a very specific nature which can enable one to penetrate to the particular layer which holds the information.

The reason that I have been ranting about the human memory is because I sometimes fail to recall certain things even after people remind me about them. And then, all of a sudden, things jump at me when I am least expecting it . This recipe for example evaded me till I got to sample some prepared by an Odia neighbor of mine. This old lady is one of the few who still prefer to make 'bara' in this manner while most of us prefer to follow the biri 'bara' recipe.

Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 30 mins

Ingredients -

• 1 cup split biri / black lentil ( i use the skin variety )
• 1 cup arwa rice ( jeera rice or sona masuri will do )
• 1 tsp whole cumin seeds
• 2-3 green chili ( finely chopped )
• 1 small onion ( finely chopped )
• 2 pinch baking powder
• salt to taste
• oil for deep frying

Preparation -  Wash and soak the biri and rice for 7-8 hours ( overnight ).

Drain excess water and grind into a thick smooth batter .

Keep aside for ferment for a good 4-5 hours .

Mix in the cumin seeds, green chili and onion along with the salt and baking powder. Let it sit for 15 mins.

Cooking - Heat sufficient oil for deep frying.

Drop small balls of the batter into the oil. Cook till brown on one side and then flip to cook on other side as well.

Remove and drain on paper towels.

Serve hot with ketchup and green chilis.

Note - One can also use crushed ginger, curry leaves and cilantro to enhance the flavor. The smaller the size, the more crunchy it will be, so take care to keep them small.

PLACEofORIGIN.in - Discoveries and Reminiscences

My day starts with it. But my rendezvous with 'Tea' does not end at that. I usually have a couple of cups throughout the day interspersed with a caffeine shot or two for that extra kick. As a Mom of a hyperactive four year old boy I need all of it and even more to keep me going throughout the day. And since these brews are such an integral part of my daily routine, I prefer nothing but the best that I can procure at my convenience. To be honest, I do not have the energy to drive half-way across the town to some quaint little shop selling gourmet/connoisseur teas. Nor do I believe in pleading with a relative to bring back a few kilos of tea from a trip to the North-East. Not my cup of tea as I would put it. Pardon the expression, but that is how I am.

With PLACEofORIGIN.in I have finally discovered that now I can have my tea and drink it too ! It is just the right website for people like me and everybody else who covet the good things in life. It could be something that one has grown up with or discovered in the course of one's travels. But with 'PLACEofORIGIN.in' one is guaranteed an encore of the flavor experience without ever resorting to substitutes or inferior replacements. As the products are curated from the very source producers, rest assured that you are getting the best of it.

That brings me back to my favorite cuppa. Given the wonderful benefits of green tea, which include fat burning and lowering cancer risk, I am quite particular about the brand (preferably organic) that I pick. And with this website, I am ensured a steady supply of my favorite brew. Plus with the numerous options that are available, there is always that additional benefit of having the freedom to switch between multiple blends and flavors. Green tea flavors like Saffron-Kahwa, Himalayan Tulsi-Rhododendron and Berry Blush are virtually impossible to procure from supermarkets or even other online sources.

Image courtesy : www.placeoforigin.in

Coffee connoisseurs can get their pick from the multiple options available on the website. The names of all the various blends in stock read like a dream. Rain Song Dark Roast, The Deep Bliss Blend and The Sunkissed Blend are enough to make me feel caffeine deprived. Don't you agree ?

But the best part is that they also sell those yummy snacks that go really well with your chosen brew. The website stocks the Shrewsbury biscuits and Chitale Bandhu Bhakarwadi from Pune, Almond House Bisticks from Hyderabad and the most decadent stuff from Moshes and Sleight of Hand from Mumbai. But these are just the ones that I am partial to. Foodies can look forward to savoring stuff from across the length and breadth of the county. Bakes, sweets and savories from places like Delhi, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, Indore and many other cities are waiting to be grabbed. In short, if there is a city marked on your foodie roadmap, the guys behind 'PLACEofORIGIN.in' might just beat you in the race to get there.

Still on the same page ? Then, go ahead and try it !

Sabudana Chiwda ( Navratri Special )

The navaratri celebrations ( or fasting ) are drawing to a close. And I have been gloriously lazy this time around and almost skipped doing a special series for the folks who have been fasting. So, this is a last ditch effort to redeem myself with a yummy snack that is going to be in vogue even when the days of fasting are long over.

With 'Sabudana' trending all over the cyberspace in so many different avatars, I was almost tempted to embark on yet another foodventureous voyage. But changed my mind at the last moment and decided to do this simple 'farsan' or mixture. With the schools closed, a continuous supply of snacks is the order of the day . And hence the reason behind picking this recipe.

Read on for the recipe -

Ingredients -

• 1 cup Sago/sabudana ( big pearls )
• 1/3 cup peanuts
• 1/5 cup raisins
• 1/5 cup cashews
• 1/5 cup thin coconut slices
• 1 tsp pepper powder ( as per taste )
• 1/2 tsp black salt (or pink salt)
• Canola Oil for deep frying

Cooking - - Heat sufficient oil in a wok. Take the sabudana pearls ( 2 tsp each time ) in a  metal strainer and dip into the hot oil. Keeping the flame on medium to high, fry each batch till all the pearls are puffed up. Do stir it up in between to ensure even cooking.

Remove and drain the pearls on paper towels. (Pop a few into your mouth to check if done. If they are still hard, fry for a longer duration)

Once all the pearls are done, fry the peanuts in the same way. Drain them on paper towels.

Finally do the cashews and raisins. ( This step has to be real quick else the cashews will brown too much and the raisins will get bitter )

Frying the coconut slices comes the last. Fry them till brown. ( I prefer to do this separately as it changes the smell of the frying medium )

Put all the fried ingredients in one big mixing bowl. Sprinkle black pepper powder and black salt over it. Toss to get everything coated evenly.

Allow the mixture to cool down before you pack it into an airtight container. Lasts almost a week ( that is if you are kind enough to leave it alone )

Home made Frozen Yogurt

Frozen yogurt is the new ice-cream ! Sounds cliched but is true. However what I cannot understand is the fact that people are ready to shell out big bucks for a tiny tub of what is essentially some Greek yogurt dunked in a whole lot of chemicals (???).

Simply going by the definition, frozen yogurt is super cooled yogurt with fruit in it ! And it is super easy to make some at home too. Without resorting to artificial flavors, gelatin and even a ice cream maker. You will just need a regular blender or super fit biceps. Yeah, you need the latter in case you have to beat the yogurt in a big bowl with a heavy metal/wooden spoon to get that creamy consistency.

But rest assured that you will be suitably rewarded for you efforts and patience. Read on for recipe -

Preparation Time - 4-5 hours ( dont worry a lot off it is just standby time)

Ingredients -

• 2 cups hung yogurt or Greek yogurt
• 3 tsp milk
• 4-5 tsp sugar (as per taste)
• 1 cup frozen fruit of your choice

Preparation - Beat the yogurt, milk and sugar till the sugar dissolves. Pop it into the freezer in a freezer-safe bowl.

After 30 mins take it out and churn it in a blender to break the formation of crystals. Put it back into the freezer. This process needs to be repeated 6-7 times to get that creamy texture.

Just before serving, take out the frozen yogurt from the freezer and give it a good buzz with the frozen fruit.

Serve immediately or atleast within an hour ( keep refrigerated till you serve it ).

Note - Vary the sugar as per taste. Sugar free can be used as a substitute if you are ok with using gelatin. The cooled gelatin liquid needs to be stirred into the beaten yogurt.

Masale-wali Mathri ( And a very Happy Diwali )

Oriyarasoi wishes all its readers a Very Happy Diwali !! May the festival of lights spread the holy light and eliminate the shadows of darkness from your lives !! [ I take this opportunity to thank you people for my FB page has recently crossed 5000 likes. Not a huge number but it seems special as I am a late entrant on the social media bandwagon. And Oriyarasoi is now on Instagram as 'Swetabiswal'. Please follow me for some interesting shares.]

Festival time is the time to give in to all sorts of cravings. And the spate of bad weather in Blore has only increased my desire to munch on various kinds of 'Namkeen' or savoury snacks while sipping endless cups of 'Adrak-wali' chai (ginger tea).

I was first introduced to Mathri during my stay in Pune. My room-mate had a special weakness for fried stuff like Laccha, Bhakarwadi and ofcourse the Mathri. Though I found it to be somewhat oily, I loved snacking on it occasionally. Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 45 mins

Ingredients -

• 1 cup maida ( refined flour )
• 1 cup atta ( whole wheat flour )
• 1 tsp peppercorn
• 1 tsp kasuri methi (dried fenugreek leaves)
• 1/4 tsp ajwain (carom seeds)
• salt to taste
• pinch of baking powder
• 2 tbsp ghee
• oil for deep frying

Preparation - Take the maida, atta and baking powder in a big bowl. Add the hot ghee to it. Rub it into the flour so that the texture resembles bread crumbs. This will take about 5 mins.

Then add the crushed peppercorn, carom seeds and kasuri methi to it. Sprinkle salt as per taste. Mix in. Add warm water little by little and knead into a tight dough.

Smear the dough with a few drops of oil. Cover and keep aside for 5 mins.

Cooking - Heat the oil in a wok.

Roll out the dough into a thick circle ( about 2 mm thickness ). Take the cap of a bottle and cut out small circles ( abt 3 cm in diameter ). Pierce holes into the circles with a fork.

Add 4-5 circles to the hot oil and fry till light brown on both sides. Take out and place on paper napkins.

Repeat for the remaining dough.

Once the mathri had cooled down completely, store it in airtight containers.

Note - This recipe will yield about 30-32 pieces.

Mughlai Paratha ( with chicken bharta stuffing )

There goes the last non-vegetarian post before Navratri kicks off !! A simple yet delectable Muglai paratha mad with whole wheat and stuffed with a deliciously finger-licking chicken stuffing. Most folks usually use maida instead of whole wheat which looks great in terms of presentation, but the best way to do it is to use atta and maida in equal proportion which not only looks great but also tastes much better than the maida variety.

However, I have used only whole wheat which I fortified with some flaxseed powder. For the stuffing, I pressure cooked the chunky chicken pieces with some spices, then shredded it and mixed it up with boiled and mashed eggs, chopped onion, green chili, cilantro and just a tint bit of garam masala (optional). Lower calories without compromising on the taste.

Read on for the recipe -

Preparation Time - 30-40 mins

Ingredients -

For dough-
1 cup whole wheat atta
4 tbsp warm milk
2 tsp oil
salt to taste
just enough water for kneading into a stiff dough

Rest -
1 cup chicken bharta (chk recipe HERE)
1 egg
2 pinch salt
oil for cooking the paratha


Preparation - Take the atta in a wide plate. Add the oil and salt. Rub it in.

Then add the milk and a little water. Knead into a stiff dough.

Smear more oil on the dough and keep it aside (covered) for 30 mins.

Break the egg into a bowl, add salt and beat it lightly.

Cooking - Take small portions of the dough. Roll it out into rotis.

Heat a flat tawa or frying pan. Place the roti on it. Smear 1 tsp egg mix over it.

Add some of the chicken bharta to the center of the roti. Fold it from all sides into a parcel. Brush more egg on top of it.

Drizzle with oil and cook on both sides. (Usually Mughlai paratha is shallow fried with lots of oil but I prefer to cook it with a few drops of oil in a nonstick skillet )

Serve hot it green chutney, ketchup and onion rings.

Alu Papdi Chaat

During my initial years of engineering, our college functioned out of a leased premises. Other than a canteen that served bad meals but great tasting bread pakoras, there was nothing to munch on during the short breaks. And then, all of a sudden, this guy selling Papdi chaat perched himself near the gates at a predetermined time every day. Though he dished out a rather frugal version of the Papdi chaat that was sans any 'dahi' or chutney, it tasted awesome and was eagerly gobbled by the college students. His stuff would be sold out in less than an hour's time and he would count the money before treading home. With the chaat priced at just rupees ten per plate, he hardly made fortune. But he never thought of increasing the price or buying a bigger 'thela' so that he could sell more number of plates and make more money.

Then a year later, we shifted to a new campus and forgot all about this guy. But one day when I was looking into the ever burgeoning finances of our household, I was reminded of this poor soul after many years. How did his simplistic approach towards life fare in the face of rising inflation? How many plates did he still sell and is it enough to feed his family ? Is that guy covered by the financial inclusion plans that has been rolled out by the new government and if yes, how will it help him in the long run ? Can we trade our aspirational lifestyles in favor of something more simpler without being branded as social outcasts ?  Such questions kept hounding me for days and yet I was at a loss for any convincing answer.

Since this is a very minimalist recipe that can also be consumed on 'no onion no garlic' days, one can give more bite to it by adding some boiled chickpeas/yellow peas/kala channa, chopped cucumber and tomatoes/raw mangoes. Recipe here -

Preparation Time - 30 mins

For the Papdis

• 2/3 cup maida/ all purpose flour
• 1/3 cup atta/ whole wheat flour
• 1 tsp semolina
• 2-3 tbsp split gram dal ( I forgot to add this)
• 2 pinch ajwain/ carom seeds 
• 1 tbsp oil
• salt to taste
• oil for deep frying

For the chaat -

• 10 papdis
• 1 small potato (boiled, peeled and cubed)
• 1/4 tsp red chili powder
• 1/2 tsp lemon juice
• black salt as per taste
• a pinch of chaat masala
• cilantro for garnishing

Preparation - Take the maida, atta, semolina, oil, carom seeds and salt in a mixing bowl. Mix well and then add water little by little to bring everything together into a smooth dough. Cover with a moist cloth and keep aside for 20 mins.

Knead the dough once again before dividing into 3-4 portions. Roll out each portion on a flat surface. Take a circular cookie cutter or even a sharp edged bottle lid/cap and cut out small circles. Using a fork, punch holes in the small circles to prevent them from puffing up during frying.

Heat sufficient oil in a wok. Add the papdis, a few at a time and fry them on a medium flame. Lower temperature will turn the papdis chewy while high heat will brown them too quickly leaving the insides under cooked. Adjust the flame accordingly. Remove and place them on paper towels to absorb excess oil.

Allow them to cool down completely before storing in airtight containers. Stays good for 8-10 days.

For assembling the Alu Papdi Chaat -

Layer 10 puris/papdis on a plate. Throw the cubes potatoes over them. Sprinkle chili powder, chaat masala, lemon juice, chopped cilantro and black salt. Mix in and consume immediately.

Stuffed Dahi Vada

Another Holi special recipe from my kitchen. Dahi vadas are a hit with almost everyone. From the tiny watered down version popular in Odisha to the huge ones immersed in a thick gravy of sweet and spicy yogurt, this snack has got quite a few varieties throughout India.

I have stuffed the vadas with a potato and veggie mixture to make them more filling. Serve these dahi vadas with a hidden twist to your friends/guests. Do make some extra as they will surely be asking for seconds. Read on for the recipe:

Preparation Time : 20-25 mins


Ingredients: Urad dal ( 1 cup ), green chillis (chopped), onion ( 1 small, finely chopped ), curd ( 1 1/2 cup ), cumin powder ( 1/2 tsp ), red chilli powder ( 1/2 tsp ), amchur powder ( 1/3 tsp ) , baking powder ( 1/3 tsp ), semolina ( suji , 1 tbs ), black salt( kala namak ) , salt, oil ( for frying ), coriander leaves (optional ).

For the stuffing - 1 cup boiled and mashed potato, 1 cup chopped vegetables ( corn, carrots, beans, green peas, beetroot - any 2-3 will do ), 1 small onion ( finely chopped), 1/2 tsp chilli powder, 1/4 tsp coriander powder, 1/4 tsp roasted cumin powder, salt to taste, 2 tsp oil.

Preparation: Soak urad dal for 3-4 hours. Grind into a smooth paste. Add salt and allow to stand for 5-6 hours.

Add a little portion of the curd to some warm water in a mixing bowl. Add a little salt and mix well.

Cooking: Heat 2 tsp oil in a wok. Add the onions and fry till translucent.

Add the chopped vegetables along with coriander powder and fry for 3 minutes. Add the mashed potatoes along with salt and chilli powder. Cook for 3-4 minutes, add roasted cumin powder and mix well. Remove from flame and keep aside to cool down.

Take the batter in a mixing bowl. Mix the suji and baking powder into the batter.

Take water in a deep vessel. Add 3-4 tsp curd and salt.

Heat the oil in a wok.

Put a ladle of the batter on a plastic sheet ( used milk packets are ideal ). Add a spoonful of the stuffing in the center. Fold and close the plastic sheet to bring the ends of the batter togather. Carefully slide the stuffed vada  into the oil. Fry till it turns brown . Remove the fried vadas and add to the curd water.

Allow to soak for 1-2 hours.

Beat the rest of the curd in a mixing bowl with salt, cumin powder, amchur, black salt and chilli powder. Add a little water if needed.

Remove the soaked vadas from the curd water and transfer to a plate. Add the beaten curd over it. Sprinkle the onions, green chillis, coriander leaves, cumin and chilli powder over it.

Note - You can stuff the vadas with a mix of raisins and dry fruits also if you prefer a richer (and calorie high) version of the recipe.

Bread Upma

Sandwiched, toasted, dipped in egg/batter and fried, slathered with jam. Does that bring on a sense of 'deja vu'? Yeah we are talking about the very unpretentious bread. Available in varieties like sweet. milk, sandwich, fruit, whole wheat, multi-grain, it is the Holy Grail breakfast for most of us.

Today we will be adding to this repertoire with another easy-breezy bread recipe . And this is one great way of masking that stale bread lying unused in the fridge ( The bread has to be in edible condition....Crumbly is OK Fungus is a strict No-No ). Read on for the recipe:

Preparation Time - 10 mins or less

Ingredients - 4 pieces bread, 1 small onion, 1 green chilli, 2 tsp oil, a pinch of mustard seeds, a pinch of cumin seeds, 1/5 tsp red chilli powder, pinch of turmeric, salt to taste.

For garnishing - 1 tbs chopped coriander leaves, 2 tbs freshly grated coconut(optional), 1 tsp lime juice.

Preparation - Cut the onion into thin long pieces. Cut the green chilli into small pieces.

Cooking - Heat the oil in a wok. Add the cumin and mustard seeds. Allow to splutter. Add the chopped onion and fry for 30-40 seconds. Add the green chilli .

Dip the bread slices in water for 1-2 seconds, take it out and squeeze out all the water.

Crumble the soaked bread and add it to the wok. Add salt, turmeric and red chilli powder. Fry for 3-4 minutes. Add the chopped coriander, grated coconut and lime juice. Mix well.

Serve hot .

Chana Jor Garam

Bengal Gram is a rich source of iron, sodium, selenium and small amounts of copper, zinc and manganese. It also provides a good amount of folic acid, antioxidants and fiber. While it is beneficial for diabetics ( improves sugar levels, glucose tolerance and urinary excretion of sugar ), it is also an boon for anemic patients. It has been in use as a cleanser for a long time as established by Ayurvedic texts.

'Chana Jor Garam' is one of the most popular street foods from the North. It can also be found in some pockets of Orissa and Bengal where is also called 'Chepta chana' or 'Chana choor'. It is a crispy and tangy chaat item that can either be consumed with loads of onions and tomatoes or by itself. It was one of my favorite snacks during my school days. Since it is time-consuming to prepare, we used to buy large packets of the ready to eat stuff. While i had given up and almost forgotten the stuff, a packet of the same caught my attention during my last visit to a cousin's place. When I asked her about it, she said that she got the stuff from Rourkela, our common native. No wonder it tasted so familiar and so good. ( You can find it in the Haldiram range, but its not just good enough )

Since I already knew the recipe, I decided to make a small batch at home. It turned out pretty well and got over within a day. Here is the recipe:

Preparation Time : 40-50 mins

Ingredients - 1 cup bengal gram, 1 tsp red chilli powder, 1/3 tsp turmeric , amchur to taste, a pinch of garam masala, salt to taste, oil for frying.

Preparation - Wash and soak the bengal gram overnight. Cook for 1-2 whistles with salt and turmeric.

Allow to cool down and drain the water. Dry the boiled bengal gram under a fan for 1-2 hours.

Take a small grinding stone ( sila-pua) or a pestle and flatten each bengal gram.

Cooking: Heat the oil in a wok. Add small batches of the flattened bengal gram to the oil and fry till crisp. Remove from oil and put on a tissue paper to soak all the excess oil.

Repeat for the remaining flattened bengal gram.

Put the fried chana on a plate . Add salt, chili powder,  and garam masala. Mix togather.

Serve as it is or with a smattering of chopped onions, tomatoes and green chillis.


Note - If you plan to store the stuff for a few days, fry the flattened chana for 2-3 minutes initially, remove and keep in the open for 5 minutes. Put it again in the hot oil and fry till crisp. This way all the water in the chana gets evaporated and it does not become soggy when stored.

Biri Chop ( Urad dal bonda )

Preparation time: 30-40 mins

Ingredients:
For the outer layer - 1 small cup chopa chada biri ( dehusked black lentil ), 2-3 tsp semolina, 5-6 crushed peppercorns, a pinch of baking powder, chopped green chillis, salt to taste, oil for deep frying.

For the stuffing - 2-3 medium sized potatoes ( boiled and peeled ), 1 tsp grated garlic, 1 tsp grated ginger, 1 medium sized onion ( finely chopped ), mustard and cumin seeds for tempering, 1/2 tsp chilli powder, 1/5 tsp turmeric, 2-3 tsp chopped coriander leaves, fried peanuts/boiled yellow peas/green peas, 2-3 tbs chopped coconut pieces, 3-4 tsp oil, salt to taste.

Preparation: Wash and soak the biri for 3-4 hours. Grind into a smooth thick paste in a mixer/grinder and keep aside for 3-4 hours to allow fermentation.

Just before frying, add the remaining ingredients to the batter and mix well. Add water if required to get the correct consistency. On dipping the balls, the batter should form a layer of 1-2 mm thickness.

Cooking: Heat 3-4 tsp oil in a wok. Add mustard-cumin seeds when the oil starts smoking. Follow with chopped onion and the grated ginger and garlic. Fry for 4-5 mins till the raw smell goes away.

Add the mashed potato along with chilli powder, salt and turmeric. Fry for 2-3 mins. Now add the fried peanuts/boiled peas, coconut pieces and chopped coriander. Fry for 1-2 mins. Remove from heat and keep aside till it is bearable to touch.

Make small balls out of the above.

Heat another deep vessel/wok with sufficient oil for deep frying. When the oil just starts to smoke, lower the heat.

Dip the potato balls in the batter and add to the wok few at a time. Fry on all sides to a medium brown colour.

Serve hot with ghuguni/chutney/ketchup.

      

Masala Papad Cones

Cooking Time Required: 10-12 mins
Cost of preparation: 10-15 rupees

Ingredients: Boiled potato ( 1 small ), Lijjat papad ( 1 no ), chopped coriander ( 1
tbs ), chopped ripe tomato ( 2 tbs ), red chilli flakes ( 1/3 tsp ), lemon juice ( few drops ), olive oil ( 1/5 tsp ), roasted sesame seeds ( 1/2 tsp ), salt ( to taste), any vegetable oil for deep frying.

Preparation: Peel and cut the potato into very small pieces. Transfer to a mixing bowl.

Add all the ingredients except for the papad and oil . Mix well.
















Cooking: Heat sufficient amount of oil in a deep wok.

Cut the papad into 4 pieces (quarters) and roll each piece into a cone shape. Hold the shape with the help of a pair of tongs and dip into hot oil for 20-25 secs.

Remove fried papad from wok and keep on a blotting paper/paper napkin. Allow to cool
for 5 mins.
















Stuff the prepared mixture into the papad cone.

Garnish with coriander leaves and chilli flakes and serve immediately.

Note: Use fresh papads for best results. I used a packet which was opened a month back and the papads turned a little brittle.